Quito — Ecuador’s state-run oil producer Petroecuador on Friday said it has declared force majeure for operations at the Ishpingo field in the country’s Orellana province in the Amazon region, due to protests by Indigenous communities.The protests have impacted operations at the field, reducing oil output by some 17,000 barrels per day (bpd) since Dec. 27, the company said in a statement.
The protests by the Waorani Kawymeno Indigenous community are affecting “the availability of Napo crude for exports and contractual obligations,” Petroecuador said in the statement.
In a video posted by local media, leaders of the Indigenous community accused Petroecuador of failing to honor agreements with the group during the last four years and have denied any allegations of kidnapping of workers.
Ecuador’s oil production is regularly affected by protests and power outages.
In October, Petroecuador reported a drop in oil production due to protests by local communities at the Auca oil field, which is also located in Orellana.
Reporting by Yury Garcia; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Aurora Ellis – Reuters
